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Hiking is a highly subjective sport, so the perfect trail for one hiker may be considered boring by another. Whether your tastes run to the serene or the adventurous, the satisfying and diverse trails of Grand Teton and Yellowstone national parks guarantee a positive experience. The parks are close enough for a day trip and a short hike in either, but the ideal way to explore their many wonders is to spend time hiking in each.

Getting There

Yellowstone's south entrance is just 10 miles from the north station of Grand Teton National Park. It’s open to wheeled vehicles May through November. Traveling between the parks, you’ll drive along the scenic John D. Rockefeller Highway, which frequently has traffic tie-ups resulting from wildlife on or near the road. Before traveling, check both park websites for updates on weather, road and station closures and other changes in access. Jackson Hole Airport is a 9-mile drive to the Grand Teton Park entrance in Moose, Wyoming, and 49 miles to the south entrance of Yellowstone.

Yellowstone Trails

With 2.2 million acres of land and more than 1,000 miles of hiking trails to explore, every road in Yellowstone leads to an exciting discovery. Yellowstone may be best known for its extraordinary number of hydrothermal features, which are well-protected yet accessible to visitors. Hiking the loop around the West Thumb Geyser Basin gives you an up-close view of pools, mud pots, colorful hot springs and geysers. Start at the West Thumb information center for this 0.7-mile circular hike. Trails around Old Faithful, which reliably erupts around 17 times a day, are among the most popular in the park. Hike to see the geyser on any of seven surrounding trails, ranging from the short (1 mile) but strenuous Observation Point trail near the visitor center to the difficult, 9.2-mile Mallard Creek trail. A mostly boardwalk-covered trail runs 1.75 miles through the main and lower terraces of the colorful and otherworldly landscape of Mammoth Hot Springs. In an hour or less, you can hike the moderately difficult Uncle Tom’s Trail some 500 feet down into the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone; its paved trail and steep steps lead to a platform overlooking the Lower Falls.

Grand Teton Trails

Rising 13,770 feet above sea level, Grand Teton peak is the namesake for this park that rims the lively town of Jackson in northwestern Wyoming. More than 200 miles of trails pass through the snow-covered Tetons; many of them require proper equipment and a high level of skill, including mountaineering expertise. Day hikers also can experience the jagged rocks and sparkling lakes in the Tetons on dozens of less strenuous hikes. A good first-day walk to get acclimated to the high elevation is the paved Lunch Tree Trail, which leads to a panoramic lookout over the Teton Range and its willow flats below. The trailhead is behind Jackson Lake Lodge. Another easy hike is the 7.1-mile, mostly flat loop around the impossibly blue Jenny Lake, a favorite for photographers who want to capture the reflection of the peaks in the water. Watch for deer and other wildlife on this trail. Experienced hikers will love the 13.6 miles and 1,500 feet of climbing on the Forks of the Cascade Canyon trail, which has impressive views at every turn of Grand, Mount Owen and Teewinot peaks. You can cut four miles off this hike by taking a shuttle boat across Jenny Lake. Death Canyon may not sound very enjoyable, but this popular trail rewards hikers with a generous overlook of Phelps Lake after just two miles and some 400 feet of climbing. Further along is strenuous with a 10-hour, 16.3-mile hike to the Static Peak Divide.

Bear Country

Both of these parks are in bear country. Park officials recommend hiking with bear spray, being prepared for rapid weather changes and carrying adequate drinking water. It’s best to check in at the ranger station or visitor center before starting out on an extended hike.

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About the Author

Julie Reynolds is a writer with 25-plus years experience creating content for print and web outlets and video scripts. Reynolds writes for consumer and trade audiences, and specializes in translating complicated concepts for lay readers. She has extensive expertise conveying safety information to consumers.